CJP finds an all-weather friend in AAP who supports him every step of the way

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke addresses the youth after CJP’s ‘Chalo Sansad’ march during Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Arvind Kejriwal’s visit to the National Assembly at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. File | Photo credit: ANI

Within hours of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) co-organizer Ashutosh Ranka posting a video on X on August 21 about how he and other CJP volunteers were assaulted while inspecting the quality of government schools in Rajasthan, another X user—AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal—quoted him and blamed the attack on the BJP.

“What is going on in the country? BJP goons brutally attacked CJP volunteers. They beat them, tore their clothes and broke their car windows. Is this all just so that they can’t raise their voice for providing good education to children?” Mr. Kejriwal said in a post on X on August 21 and retweeted Mr. Ranka’s post.

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The retweet garnered more likes and reposts than the original post, and it’s not an isolated case.

Since its inception, CJP has been supported by Mr. Kejriwal, other top leaders and the AAP ecosystem, even before it became a mass movement in Delhi that draws tens of thousands of people to Jantar Mantar every day.

On August 18, when right-wing cliques were attacking CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, claiming his degree was fake, Mr. Kejriwal retweeted a video about Mr. Dipke, extending his support.

On August 17, when the Rajasthan government restricted the entry of foreigners to government schools following the CJP’s campaign to inspect government schools, Mr Kejriwal said in a post on X: “Instead of banning foreigners, why not fix the school?”

Even in the early days of the CJP movement, Mr. Kejriwal supported him online and asked people to join the protest at Jantar Mantar. Later in July, he visited the site of the protest along with other leaders.

Both Mr Dipke and Mr Ranka have worked for the AAP in the past, while CJP co-convenor Saurav Das’s closeness to Mr Kejriwal is hardly a secret.

Interestingly, the support from the larger AAP ecosystem was more than just extending political support at key points.

“15000 + GenZ crowd at Connaught Place right now as Jantar Mantar is packed. Naturally without any protest. #CJP” AAP Delhi President Saurabh Bharadwaj said in a post on X on 21 July. He made several such contributions in support of the CJP.

X Akshay Marathe’s timeline, who wrote articles as an “AAP spokesperson” till February last year, has been flooded with posts supporting the CJP in the last two months.

“Abhijeet Dipke shares his story in this fantastic 10-minute film produced by the New York Times. Cockroaches paint India in the best possible light these days. Watch this – you’ll be proud of young Indians!” Mr. Marathe published X on Sunday.

“The power of a mass movement – everyone is spurred into action to protect their jobs! From politicians to bureaucrats,” Mr Marathe said, retweeting a video posted on X by Mr Dipke of authorities visiting the school after the CJP highlighted the problems.

“Hum Jeet Gayeeeeeeeeeeee,” Mr Marathe said on Facebook on July 25 when Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as Union Education Minister, while posting a video about Mr Deepka and the movement.

Published – 31 Aug 2026 08:15 IST